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Show gain in recreation that would result from reservoir construction would be significant to the Statewide situation. The estimated stream fishing losses would be of special importance because of the relative scarcity of high quality stream fishing opportunity that already exists. ( 6) Hunting The sport of hunting would experience both gains and Losses under the influence of the Bonneville Unit. Table C- 26 summarizes the effects that construction and operation of the Unit would have upon hunting in the^ areas in the imnediate vicinity of Unit features. Hunting for elk would not be affected. There would be a decline in dser hunting within the Unit area of about 1.8 percent mainly associated with the loss of winter habitat by inundation and impedence of migration routes. Approximately 35 percent of the potential losses would be recovered with planned mitigation. Pheasant hunting would experience a gain of approximately 34 percent without mitigation even though important winter habitat would be lost with the diking of Provo Bay. According to the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and WLldLifel the huntable sage grouse population in Strawberry Valley would be completely eliminated by the reservoir enlargement. This view is not shared by the Center For Health and Environmental Studies, Brigham Young University, whose report states: " The proposed enlarg- emert of Strawberry Reservoir would appear to result in rather little change in the general condition which now prevails in this area. Expansion of the reservoir, particularly in Soldier Creek Area, would reduce some of the habitat now used by Sage Grouse, but there should still be plenty of suitable habitat left for this species in the Strawberry Valley." 66 The local impact of the Unit upon waterfowl hunting would be severe with or without mitigation. Personal comminication with the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlifel22 reveaied that ai) OJt 70 percent of the predicted losses involved the diking of Provo Bay. According to the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, without application of proposed mitigation measures all of the waterfowl hunting around Utah |
